Gully Density

AUS-AKW-URB-GUL General Moderate confidence

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha
Direction: Lower is desirable ↓
Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard MaximumOnly Guard MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard

Evidence & Context

Therefore, the scientifically defensible reference value representing the best available condition of nature for a developed site in this biome is 0 m/ha of active gully erosion.

Metric Definition:

Active gully erosion density measured as meters of gully per hectare (m/ha)

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the ideal condition of zero active gully erosion in urban and developed sites within the Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands biome, indicating no artificial runoff concentration causing erosion.

Justification:

The benchmark of 0 m/ha is based on the intrinsic geomorphic stability of Australia's arid karst biomes (e.g., Nullarbor Plain). These landscapes have minimal natural surface runoff and extremely low background erosion rates. Active gully formation is not a natural feature but a degradation signal, almost exclusively caused by the artificial concentration of stormwater from impervious surfaces associated with development. Best-practice land management, specifically Water-Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), aims to mimic natural hydrology by managing stormwater at its source through infiltration and controlled conveyance, thus preventing gully initiation.

Sources (1)

Preview of The Nullarbor deserves better protection - La Trobe University, accessed July 24, 2025
The Nullarbor deserves better protection - La Trobe University, accessed July 24, 2025 Journal

(PDF) Karst evolution of the Nullarbor Plain, Australia - ResearchGate, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source

Supporting Sources (28)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of ( a ) Shaded relief of the Nullarbor Plain showing various... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025
( a ) Shaded relief of the Nullarbor Plain showing various... | Download Scientific Diagram - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

When the Nullarbor heats up, these are the small caps with first-mover advantage

View Source
Preview of (PDF) Water Sensitive Urban Design - Case Studies (Australia/Dubai) - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025,
(PDF) Water Sensitive Urban Design - Case Studies (Australia/Dubai) - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

WATER- SENSITIVE URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING - Centre for Science and Environment

View Source
Preview of Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 26, 2025
Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell River Fluvial Megafan in Northern Queensland, Australia - Resilient Landscapes Hub, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Analysing water sensitive urban design options, accessed July 26, 2025,
Analysing water sensitive urban design options, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Analysing water sensitive urban design options, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025
Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions)

View Source
Preview of Barkly Karst Region (Qld & NT), accessed July 26, 2025
Barkly Karst Region (Qld & NT), accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Barkly Karst Region (Qld & NT), accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Driving across the Nullarbor Plain - Tourism Australia, accessed July 26, 2025
Driving across the Nullarbor Plain - Tourism Australia, accessed July 26, 2025
Irrelevant

Recommencement of Operations at Norseman Gold Project Section 38 Referral Supporting Document Prepared by Pantoro Limited April 2021 - EPA WA, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

Geology of the Nullarbor Plain (Webb and James 2006; courtesy JA Webb). - ResearchGate, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully density map of the study assessment area (kilometres... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Gully erosion prediction across a large region ... - ResearchGate, accessed July 20, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully erosion repair - Healthy Land & Water, accessed July 26, 2025
Gully erosion repair - Healthy Land & Water, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion repair - Healthy Land & Water, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,
Gully mapping and drivers in the grazing lands of the Burdekin catchment (RP66G) Summary Report - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 1, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Grazing impacts on gully dynamics indicate approaches for gully erosion control in northeast Australia - The Australian National University

View Source
Preview of Horizon Power Norseman Renewables, accessed July 26, 2025
Horizon Power Norseman Renewables, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Norseman Gold Project - MBS Environmental, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of How to Cross The Nullarbor Plain (A Complete Guide) - Backpacker Job Board, accessed July 26, 2025,
How to Cross The Nullarbor Plain (A Complete Guide) - Backpacker Job Board, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support

SOUTH AUSTRALIA - Nullarbor Map, accessed July 26, 2025,

View Source
Preview of Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) Version 7.1 (Regions) - Overview, accessed July 26, 2025
Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) Version 7.1 (Regions) - Overview, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) Version 7.1 (Regions) - Overview, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions) | Dataset, accessed July 26, 2025
Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions) | Dataset, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Government

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions) - Dataset - data.gov.au, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 26, 2025
Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

en.wikipedia.org, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Karst features and remnant dune systems on the Nullarbor Plain, Australia, accessed July 26, 2025,
Contextual Support Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

View Source
Preview of nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,
Direct Evidence Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ...

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor - DBCA Library
Nullarbor - DBCA Library
Contextual Support Journal

Nullarbor - DBCA Library, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 25, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor Plain - Wikipedia, accessed July 24, 2025

View Source
Preview of Nullarbor, South Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 26, 2025
Nullarbor, South Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Nullarbor, South Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 26, 2025
Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 13, 2025,
Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 13, 2025,
Contextual Support Government

Managing Gully Erosion - NQ Dry Tropics, accessed July 27, 2025,

View Source
Preview of The Nullarbor – Anything but Plain - Journey Beyond Rail, accessed July 26, 2025
The Nullarbor – Anything but Plain - Journey Beyond Rail, accessed July 26, 2025
Irrelevant

The Nullarbor – Anything but Plain - Journey Beyond Rail, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Water sensitive urban design brochures - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 26, 2025
Water sensitive urban design brochures - Government of Western Australia, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support

Environmental and Design Guidelines : Version 1.6 - District Council of Ceduna, accessed July 26, 2025

View Source
Preview of Water-sensitive urban design - Wikipedia, accessed August 11, 2025,
Water-sensitive urban design - Wikipedia, accessed August 11, 2025,
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water-sensitive urban design - Wikipedia

View Source
Preview of Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 26, 2025
Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 26, 2025
Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Wetlands | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed July 23, 2025

View Source
Preview of www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
www.publications.qld.gov.au, accessed May 13, 2025
Contextual Support Journal

Soil condition | NSW State of the Environment

View Source

Context

  • Region Australia
  • Biome Arid Karstic Woodlands & Shrublands
  • Land Use Urban & Developed Use
  • Assessment Conservation Target
  • Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

  • Status Active
  • Version 1
  • Effective From 8 Jun 2026

Notes

Lower Critical Threshold: Not applicable. There is no known ecological or functional benefit provided by gullies in this landscape. The absence of this degradation feature is the ideal state. Optimal Range: The optimal condition for ecological health and landscape stability is 0 m/ha of active gullies. Upper Detrimental Threshold: The threshold is crossed at any value > 0 m/ha. The presence of any active gully signifies that hydrological thresholds have been breached and the site is in a state of active erosion.